The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-02
GAS IN NINETY DAYS.
The Terms on Which the Standard Company
Is Willing to Expend About ST.. 100000.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Jon rnai:
Inasmuch frequent inquiries are made of
me respecting the attitude of the Standard Oil
people in piping natural gas to this city, permit
me to reply generally to such inquiries through
the columns of your paper.
/. The Standard Oil people are ready and will
ing to pipe gas to the city within the next ninety
days from this date, provided the Common Coun-
ell will amend the ordinance which was recently
passed and make it conform to the two PROPOSE
tons which were submitted by G. N. Payne,
some time last month.
2. The two propositions, as I understand them,
are as follows: IL J That the maximum price for
gas should be fixed in substantial conformity
to a schedule furnished to a meeting of citizens
held at the Denison House; or a meter sys-
tenn the maximum price conforming nearly as
could be to the rates above suggested. (2) That
if this basis of fixing maximum charges was not
satisfactory, it might be fixed upon basis of
seventy five per cent. of the price of coal (slack
excludedl, which price for coal should be fixed
and determined in the ordinance, and should be
the basis for arriving at such maximum prices
3. At any time when the ordinance was, or
should be, amended so as to meet tho above sug-
gestions. or either of them. the Standard Oil peo
pie would within thirty days begin work in lay
ing pipes to this city, and would agree to bind
themselves to have the gas in the city for use by
the 10th of November next.
f. To pipe to this city within the time
mentioned 1t will be necessary TO expend about
81, 900. 900, half of which, at least, will be
paid to the laboring men of this city.
g. If the company should furnish gas at the
full maximum price to customers this winter it
would be saving of % per cent-on their fuel
bills The amount thus saved is easily esti-
mated.
G. Mr.. Payne, when here. frequently stated
that the company would not charge TIE maxi
mum price to consumers in this city; that the
schedule would be arranged lower basis
than the maximum price, and that ii was
found in sufficient quantities the company would
continually reduce its price to a still lower limit.
z. The Standard Oil people have wells already
sunk which will yield supply sufficient for
their first line of mains. In acceptable
ordinance is passed further and vigorous
ploration of the gas field will be made by the
company
g. The Standard Oil people have from the
beginning treated this matter in straight for
ward, business-like way. They have frequently
told the citizens and members of the Common
Council what their position in reference to
piping gas to the city. They have at
empted to ''iugge" deceive the people the
City Council. In all their interviews with the
citizens and members of the Council they have
been specific in what they desired and In the
kind of an ordinance that would be acceptable.
And they have been thus spicihc because they
expected to fulfill there engagements literally.
g. In letter received from Mr.. PAYNE to-day,
he repeats to me that if the ordinance is amend
ed at once, their company will have gas in
Indianapolis for consumption before cold
weather
TO- It remains with the City Council to
''com bination coal prices" this winter wheth-
er it will tighten the burdens By allowing
cheaper fuel be substituted; and further,
whether it will prevent the expenditure of this
lar ge sum of money among the laborers of this
city during the coming fall. w. II. CALKINS.
INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. l.